New Taipei: President Lai Ching-te's speech on Sunday received mixed reactions, with the opposition criticizing it as "hollow" and "sowing division." Lai delivered the first of his "10 Talks on the Country" in New Taipei on Sunday afternoon. The speaking tour, aimed at addressing the challenges facing Taiwan and outlining the government's responses, will take the president to cities and counties across Taiwan.
According to Focus Taiwan, in the speech, Lai referenced the Treaty of San Francisco to emphasize that "Taiwan has never belonged to the People's Republic of China" and that "the PRC has never ruled Taiwan for even a single day." Commenting on the speech later Sunday, Yang Chih-yu, spokesperson of the main opposition Kuomintang (KMT), said the speech revealed Lai's inability to listen to public opinion.
Yang stated, "Faced with public anxiety, economic challenges, and tense cross-strait relations, President Lai has been living in the Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) Taiwan independence universe and never listened to public opinion." Yang further criticized Lai's apparent belief that "resisting China to protect Taiwan" is the solution to everything and his support of the July 26 mass recall votes of 24 KMT lawmakers, suggesting that he is encouraging political polarization and has forgotten his responsibilities as president.
Meanwhile, KMT Chairman Eric Chu expressed that instead of uniting the people, consolidating power appeared to be the more likely motivation behind Lai's speech. Chu suggested that Lai should address issues people care about, such as progress in Taiwan's negotiations with the United States on "reciprocal tariffs," and whether the country has sufficient energy supply. Additionally, Chu urged Lai to tackle high house prices, rampant scams, crime, and clarify whether his administration will continue to adopt a "confrontational" stance with China.
The Taiwan People's Party (TPP) described Lai's speech as "astonishingly hollow." TPP stated that while Lai gave a long-winded historical account in his speech, his understanding of history is "fragmented, lacking, and out of touch with the public." The party emphasized that the president should focus on how Taiwan can capitalize on AI, where he is leading the country, and the substantive aspects of his governance, rather than delving into history and engaging in empty sloganeering.
On the other hand, DPP legislative caucus whip Wu Szu-yao defended Lai's speech, saying the president hopes to use the speaking tour to unite the country and reaffirm Taiwan's commitment to democratic values. Wu stated, "The first talk focuses on the country, underscoring that only unity can ensure security," adding that Lai's intent is to bring Taiwan together under the banner of democracy. Wu highlighted that the talks aim to ease partisan divides similar to the national security briefing Lai earlier offered to opposition leaders.
Separately, DPP spokesperson Justin Chuo issued a press release responding to criticism from the KMT and the TPP. He mentioned that Lai, as head of state, had extended invitations to both party chairs for a national security briefing, which they declined, and is now seeking to communicate directly with the public through the "10 Talks" amid escalating international and domestic challenges. Chuo accused the opposition of smearing the initiative with baseless accusations, indicating that it is the KMT and TPP leaderships who are undermining national unity for political gain.
Chuo concluded by stating that Lai's address comes at a critical time, with global dynamics shifting rapidly and China ramping up military activity in the Indo-Pacific and stepping up efforts to infiltrate Taiwan. He emphasized, "The president is determined to face these challenges head-on and lead the nation forward -- that is the spirit behind the 10 Talks."